--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that a bell rings to signal when…" description: "\"The idea that a bell rings to signal when investors should get into or out of the stock market is simply not credible. After nearly fifty years in this..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/john-c-bogle-2199_bells_the-idea-that-a-bell-rings-to-signal-whe_1293253.jpg" --- # The idea that a bell rings to signal when investors should… ![“The idea that a bell rings to signal when investors should get into or out of the stock market is simply not credible. After nearly fifty years in this business, I do not know of anybody who has done it successfully and consistently. I don't even know anybody who knows anybody who has done it…” quote by John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/john-c-bogle-2199_bells_the-idea-that-a-bell-rings-to-signal-whe_1293253.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/john-c-bogle-2199_bells_the-idea-that-a-bell-rings-to-signal-whe_1293253.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/527/john-c-bogle-2199_bells_the-idea-that-a-bell-rings-to-signal-whe_1293253.jpg) > “The idea that a bell rings to signal when investors should get into or out of the stock market is simply not credible. After nearly fifty years in this business, I do not know of anybody who has done it successfully and consistently. I don't even know anybody who knows anybody who has done it successfully and consistently. Yet market timing appears to be increasingly embraced by mutual fund investors and the professional managers of fund portfolios alike.” [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Market timing is unreliable; few, if any, consistently predict market turns, yet many still chase it. **In simple terms:** Timing the market rarely works. Key Takeaway Avoid trying to time the market. Themes investment risk behavior finance Mood skeptical cautious Type advisory analytical When to use this quote - portfolio management - retirement planning - investment education Key Concepts efficiency market hypothesis behavioral bias Questions to Reflect On - Why do investors cling to timing despite evidence? - What alternatives to timing can improve returns? A Different Perspective Even seasoned investors struggle to time markets reliably. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/) [Customer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/customer/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Investors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investors/) [Market timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/market-timing/) [Mutual fund](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual-fund/) [Portfolios](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portfolios/) [Signals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/signals/) [Stock market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stock-market/) [Timing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/timing/) ## Related quotes > [Surprise! The returns reported by mutual funds aren't actually earned by mutual fund investors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/surprise-the-returns-reported-by-mutual-funds-aren-t-actually-earned/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Millions of mutual-fund investors sleep well at night, serene in the belief that superior outcomes result from pooling funds with like-minded investors and engaging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-f-swensen/millions-of-mutual-fund-investors-sleep-well-at-night-serene-in-the/) [David F. Swensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-f-swensen/) > [Index funds are the only rational alternative for almost all mutual fund investors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-hulbert/index-funds-are-the-only-rational-alternative-for-almost-all-mutual/) Mark Hulbert > [Fund investors are confident that they can easily select superior fund managers. They are wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/fund-investors-are-confident-that-they-can-easily-select-superior/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Unbeknownst to most American investors, significant portions of their public pension, mutual fund, life insurance and private portfolios are comprised of stocks of privately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gaffney/unbeknownst-to-most-american-investors-significant-portions-of-their/) [Frank Gaffney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gaffney/) > [In the long run, a portfolio of well chosen stocks and/or equity mutual funds will always outperform a portfolio of bonds or a money-market…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lynch/in-the-long-run-a-portfolio-of-well-chosen-stocks-and-or-equity/) [Peter Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lynch/) > [Many novice real estate investors soon quit the profession and invest in a well-diversified portfolio of bonds. 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Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Entrepreneurs or international conglomerateurs, or large financial institutions buy or create mutual fund management companies to create a return on their own capital. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/entrepreneurs-or-international-conglomerateurs-or-large-financial/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Our capitalistic scheme in the latter years of the 20th century seems to have lost its way. We've had a "pathalogical change" from traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/our-capitalistic-scheme-in-the-latter-years-of-the-20th-century-seems/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The fund scandals shined the spotlight on the fact that mutual fund managers were putting their interests ahead of the fund shareholders who trusted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-fund-scandals-shined-the-spotlight-on-the-fact-that-mutual-fund/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Without getting into brothels, there are ethical capitalists the problem is that there aren't enough of them. It is not "just a few bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/without-getting-into-brothels-there-are-ethical-capitalists-the/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) ## More by John C. Bogle > [The basic idea of retirement income is, to me, to get a check, two checks every month, one from your fixed income and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-basic-idea-of-retirement-income-is-to-me-to-get-a-check-two/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [When you're young, you've got plenty of time to recover from your mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/when-you-re-young-you-ve-got-plenty-of-time-to-recover-from-your/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I almost hate to say how proud I am of my career and, most of all, helping folks get the returns they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-almost-hate-to-say-how-proud-i-am-of-my-career-and-most-of-all/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The Vanguard Experiment was designed to prove that mutual funds could operate independently, and do so in a manner that would directly benefit their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-vanguard-experiment-was-designed-to-prove-that-mutual-funds-could/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Learning is to the Studious, and Riches to the Careful. If a man empties his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/an-investment-in-knowledge-always-pays-the-best-interest-learning-is/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I liked the so-called Volcker Rule. I would have separated investment banking and commercial, deposit banking, as we did under the Glass-Steagal Act. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-liked-the-so-called-volcker-rule-i-would-have-separated-investment/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [We make too much out of past performance, and it's very misleading to investors. It causes them to move money around. They buy a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/we-make-too-much-out-of-past-performance-and-it-s-very-misleading-to/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [It's very difficult for any particular segment of the stock market to sustain superior performance. The watch word for our financial markets is, "reversion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/it-s-very-difficult-for-any-particular-segment-of-the-stock-market-to/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I do think that impact investing is not that effective. Shares go from investor A to investor B, and the company doesn't even know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-do-think-that-impact-investing-is-not-that-effective-shares-go-from/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I was born in an earlier generation and, as a group, my classmates at Blair Academy and Princeton University were as ethical, straightforward, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-was-born-in-an-earlier-generation-and-as-a-group-my-classmates-at/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [My only regret about money is that I don't have more to give away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/my-only-regret-about-money-is-that-i-don-t-have-more-to-give-away/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [U.S. companies are innovative and entrepreneurial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/u-s-companies-are-innovative-and-entrepreneurial/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Successful investing is about owning businesses and reaping the huge rewards provided by the dividends and earnings growth of our nation's - and, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/successful-investing-is-about-owning-businesses-and-reaping-the-huge/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [Without getting into brothels, there are ethical capitalists the problem is that there aren't enough of them. It is not "just a few bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/without-getting-into-brothels-there-are-ethical-capitalists-the/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [The average hedge fund manager is going to earn zero per cent in extra return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/the-average-hedge-fund-manager-is-going-to-earn-zero-per-cent-in/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) [Explore all 179 John C. Bogle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) ## More Bells quotes > [You’re crazy,” said her best friend, Angela, as the bell rang to signal five minutes before the first class on the first day back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-re-crazy-said-her-best-friend-angela-as-the-bell-rang-to-signal/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Your name is a golden bell hung in my heart. I would break my body to pieces to call you once by your name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-s-beagle/your-name-is-a-golden-bell-hung-in-my-heart-i-would-break-my-body-to/) [Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-s-beagle/) > [“Suddenly the air was full of that deep clangor of bells which periodically covers Rome with a roof of silver.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/suddenly-the-air-was-full-of-that-deep-clangor-of-bells-which/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [Hercules used noise! Brass bells! He scared them away with the most horrible sound he could-" said Percy "Percy... Chiron's collection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/hercules-used-noise-brass-bells-he-scared-them-away-with-the-most/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/above-the-clouds-i-lift-my-wing-to-hear-the-bells-of-heaven-ring-some/) [Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/) > [“But it’s bells at twenty-seven thousand feet as the plane breaks into the clear again, as its motion steadies again; it is bells; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/but-it-s-bells-at-twenty-seven-thousand-feet-as-the-plane-breaks-into/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell your opponent that you're as tough as they are. But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville > [In cloths cheap handsomeness, doth bear the bell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/in-cloths-cheap-handsomeness-doth-bear-the-bell/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Man preys on man; and you mourn for the idle tapestry that decorated a gothic pillar, and the dronish bell that summoned the fat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/man-preys-on-man-and-you-mourn-for-the-idle-tapestry-that-decorated-a/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The Bell curve is a fact of life. 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When that drone shot carried us through… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aisha-hinds/i-became-an-instant-fan-of-the-show-underground-seconds-into-the/) [Aisha Hinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aisha-hinds/) > [This world o' God's is brighter Than we ever dream or know; Its burdens growin' lighter- An' it's Love that makes 'em so! An'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-lebby-stanton/this-world-o-god-s-is-brighter-than-we-ever-dream-or-know-its-burdens/) [Frank Lebby Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-lebby-stanton/) > [Believe it or not, Mexican cooking, for those of you who have not gone farther south than Taco Bell, uses a lot of vegetables.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/believe-it-or-not-mexican-cooking-for-those-of-you-who-have-not-gone/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) [Browse all 790 Bells quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bells/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idea that a bell rings to signal when investors should get into or out of the stock market is simply not credible. After nearly fifty years in this business, I do not know of anybody who has done it successfully and consistently. 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